Unattended cooking could lead to an unintended fire

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 05:00 PM.

Kelly said that he hears of eight people each day across the U.S. who die in home fires. Some simple steps can help prevent some of these fires that arise from cooking.

“Always attend to the stove when frying something,” he said. “Never throw water on a grease fire.”

Kelly doesn’t recommend pouring baking soda on a grease fire either, because it puts the person too close to the flames.

“Keep a lid close by to smother the grease fire and have a mitt to protect your hand,” he said. “I use a cookie sheet so I can just slide it over the pot without having to put my hand where the fire is.”

Kelly said that if the fire is too big, the best rule of thumb is to get out.

“Some people try to be a hero, but that can kill you. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire, and make sure everyone is out,” he said.

He stresses having active smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher in the house to help with fire prevention and protection. But, above all, he says to be attentive to those fires, like cooking fires, that may be preventable.

Officials are encouraging safety in the wake of several area fires in recent weeks — and they say being safe in the kitchen is a great place to start.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires and home injuries. Leaving food cooking on a stove, in an oven or in a slow cooker without being attended or timed can lead to severe consequences.

Jacksonville Fire Marshal John Reed stated in an email that there have been several recent residential fires in the city directly associated with unattended cooking.

Onslow County Fire Marshal Brian Kelly said that the main problem is multitasking.

“It is a fairly common occurrence,” he said. “In today’s society, we get so bombarded with everyday life — the phone ringing, the kids going here and there — we get sidetracked. That becomes a very common thing.”

He said it is common to walk away and forget things — especially in an oven or slow cooker.

“We have the mentality to ‘set it and forget it,’” Kelly said. “We set it on the stove, set the temperature and walk away.

“We’re not a society who stays in the kitchen.”

Kelly recommends using timers, even if you are cooking something for several hours. He said it is best to check every 45 minutes or so to make sure the item is cooking as planned and there are no fire hazards.

“Use a timer on your cell phone or one that you can clip on your belt,” he said. “If nothing else, put a wooden spoon in your pocket — you’ll remember it.”

Another issue is leaving the house while you’re cooking.

“You should always stay at home and in the house when you are cooking,” Kelly said. “With Crockpot meals, you want to make sure you are home and everything is safe. If you’re not home and it catches fire, you’re going to lose everything.”

Kelly said that the biggest thing people need to realize is that cooking tools and appliances are manmade devices.

“They will fail, and we don’t want to fall victim to that failure,” he said. “While you like to think that nothing will happen, it could.”

Kelly said that he hears of eight people each day across the U.S. who die in home fires. Some simple steps can help prevent some of these fires that arise from cooking.

“Always attend to the stove when frying something,” he said. “Never throw water on a grease fire.”

Kelly doesn’t recommend pouring baking soda on a grease fire either, because it puts the person too close to the flames.

“Keep a lid close by to smother the grease fire and have a mitt to protect your hand,” he said. “I use a cookie sheet so I can just slide it over the pot without having to put my hand where the fire is.”

Kelly said that if the fire is too big, the best rule of thumb is to get out.

“Some people try to be a hero, but that can kill you. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire, and make sure everyone is out,” he said.

He stresses having active smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher in the house to help with fire prevention and protection. But, above all, he says to be attentive to those fires, like cooking fires, that may be preventable.

“You have to be aware, attentive and close by,” he said.

To learn more about cooking safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association at NFPA.org.